Landmark Legal Case Launched Over Congolese Child Cobalt Mining Deaths

Photo by UNICEF

Congolese members of RAPAR,  who have denounced child cobalt mining in DRC, have welcomed a landmark legal case against five of the world's largest tech companies.
 
Families from the Democratic Republic of Congo whose children have been killed or maimed while mining for cobalt have mounted a legal case against Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dell and Tesla.  The children were working in cobalt mines in the companies' supply chain and it is the first time any of the major tech companies have faced this kind of challenge. The lawsuit has been filed in Washington DC on behalf of the families by the human rights organisation International Rights Advocates.
 
Cobalt is used to power Smartphones, Laptops and electric cars.
 
RAPAR's Congolese members have also highlighted human rights abuses related to the mining of coltan which is used in the production of electronic devices, including mobile phones and laptops. Coltan is used in a different supply chain from cobalt.
 
You can read more about the lawsuit related to child cobalt mining here.